Rock Climbing & Canyoneering

Rock Climbing In the Santa Catalina Mountains

The Santa Catalina Mountains have become a popular destination for climbers around the world. However this unique range, with quality rock from elevations of ~3000ft through ~9000ft, has remained a haven for solitude and a true wilderness experience. Come climb with us in the beautiful Coronado National Forest, all levels of experience welcome.

The endless crags that fleck the Mt. Lemmon massif span an incredible range of elevation and allow for climbing in enjoyable temperatures year round. This Sky Island offers incredible views of the Sonoran Desert below and the verticality of this range adds to the exposure on many climbs. There truly is climbing for everyone from first-timers to experienced climbers alike.

This historic mountain has a long tradition of climbing activity and the local climbing community has kept intact it's traditional ethics. There is nearly every genre of climbing available from short technical sport climbs to long committing traditional routes. Let our experienced guides introduce you to this national gem in the southwest.

Individual Rate: $200
Group Rates (2 or more): $175 per person
520-296-9661

Climbing high on Rappel Rock.

Airy traverse on Chimney Rock in Bear Canyon.

Leading out at the Willow Canyon Crags.

Seven Cataracts, Canyoneering Descent (I/II, Class 3 B/C)
Santa Catalina Mountains

The Santa Catalina Mountains are part of a unique group of high Southwestern mountains referred to as "Sky Islands" After the last ice age, the vegetation community dominated by deciduous and coniferous trees receded to these high mountains where cooler air and frequent moisture allowed for their persistence. These isolated ecosystems are also vital habitat for many species including some outstanding endemics. The Sky Islands climb dramatically above the surrounding desert. This extreme change in elevation creates steep drainages which descend down to the desertscrub below. These often rocky, water carved drainages create the ephemeral streams which appear for short periods in the Sonoran Desert.

ROUTE DESCRIPTION:
The Seven Cataracts Descent, graded under the Canyoneering Rating System (CRS, 4 part) is Grade I/II, Class 3, Water B/C
Technical Classification: 3 (Intermediate) - technical climbing and rappelling skills needed. Retreat requires fixed ropes.
Water Rating: B = swimming to be expected, water has little to no current, or C = water with a strong current, wet canyon techniques required.
Risk Rating: ( no rating ) - normal risk factors present
Grade I/II = short outing/half day
The route begins at the Windy Point Vista, where we hike west along the descending ridge following climbers trails and beautiful rock formations. We will then drop north from the ridge down a faint trail system that delivers us down at the bottom of the canyon. From here it is a scenic scramble over and around boulders west to the start of the first rappel. The route is done in 5 to 7 rappels depending on preference. Most of these are mandatory in order to reach the pristine rock carved pools. There are many perches along the way down which are perfect for a lunch break. Once the rappels have been completed, we will either continue to the bottom of the falls, hike back upstream along the lower drainage for a ¼ mile, or traverse along the face east of the final pool, in to the lower drainage and scramble up the south side up to the shuttle.

SEASON & CONDITIONS
The post-monsoon season (July-August) is ideal for desired flow and warmer temperatures, when swimming is a treat.
Late winter and early spring (January-April) are also excellent times to go. During this time, flow is more consistent due to snowmelt, which also means we will rappel along some icy waters. With proper equipment such as dry tops, commonly used for paddling, this season can be very enjoyable.

TRIP LOGISTICS
We will depart from Tucson and meet the shuttle vehicle at Seven Cataracts Vista along the Catalina Highway. From this pullout, one can view the lower falls and rappels. This vista allows for ideal observation of current flow conditions and gives astonishing perspective of the elevation range offered by this route. We will then continue up the mountain to the Windy Point Vista (also a perfect point from which to soak in the vertical relief) where we begin the route. All technical equipment required will be provided. For those choosing to use personal gear will need a helmet, harness, belay/rappel device, 2 locking carabiners, and a spectra daisy chain.

TRIP RATES
Typical team sizes will be from 2-5 people including guide(s), although larger groups may be considered.
The guide to client ratio should not exceed 1:3 except under circumstances where clients have a high degree of experience with technical rope work and posses advance rock climbing skills.

Individual Rate: $250
Group Rates (2 or more): $200 per person
520-296-9661

Finally A rock climbing canyoneering guide service that is qualified, certified and insured. Now in Tucson!

Aspen Expeditions/RMCS has been guiding and teaching rock climbing and alpine mountaineering skills since 1976. Our guides have accumulated many years of experience guiding in the world’s greatest mountain ranges, and have recently expanded operations to the Phoenix and Tucson area.

Aspen Expeditions distinguishes itself from other guide services by its full commitment to formal training and certification through the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA).

For the complete Beginner or the experienced climber who requires additional training, Aspen Expeditions/ Rocky Mountain Climbing School offers the full spectrum of state of the art professional instruction. With emphasis on safety and enjoyment, our informative teaching progressions and low student/guide ratios assure maximum attention, which each individual deserves. Contrary to popular belief, beginning rock climbing requires a very low fitness level.

“If you can walk you can rock”!

The Santa Catalina Mountains offer some of the greatest rock climbing in the southwest, just minutes from Tucson. Experience local Phoenix climbing areas such as Camelback Mountain and Pinnacle Peak near Scottsdale.

Jeff Fassett Bio: Jeff Fassett has been guiding/climbing since 1989 working primarily with Aspen Expeditions/Rocky Mountain Climbing School, and has worked in the position as program director since 1992. Jeff has also guided and taught winter mountaineering and ice climbing with

Green Mountain Guides in Vermont and corporate rope courses with Venture Up in Phoenix AZ. Jeff has been a staff member of the Colorado Mountain College, teaching technical rock climbing since 1992.

As a professional member of the American Mountain Guides Association, he has taken level one and rock instructor exams achieving rock instructor certification. To receive this level of training and certification one must have over 400 documented days of multi-pitch diverse guiding experience and must have climbed over 110 grade three or higher technical rock climbs. This is the highest level of training and certification the country has to offer.

Jeff has Advanced First Aid and Emergency care, as well as Community First Aid and Safety with the American Red Cross.

Climbing extensively throughout the country, with numerous technical ascents from big walls in Yosemite California to the Desert Towers of the Southwest, Jeff now lives in Tucson Arizona.